Berestov does not treat these systems as competing ideas, but as complementary tools that actors can use to construct a richer, more flexible craft. Throughout the book, Berestov portrays mastery not as a gift, but as a commitment. These habits reveal acting not merely as an expressive art, but as a lifelong discipline. Case studies illustrate how iconic performers used physicality—subtle or extreme—to transform into unforgettable characters.
Berestov provides practical advice for actors navigating both worlds, emphasizing adaptability as a key trait of modern performers. Acting, he argues, is not simply imitation—it is an art form that preserves the complexities of the human spirit. In Masters of Acting, Richard Berestov continually returns to one central idea: great acting is the art of transformation. Transformation of the body. Transformation of voice. Transformation of thought and emotion. But most importantly, transformation of perception—how an actor sees the world and how the world sees them.
